Fact: I can go on with my day with not-so-groomed hair. Seriously. I sometimes go out with my hair still dripping wet and just wait for it to dry in the car. I would normally just finger-comb my hair to, at least, tame it. Sad truth, indeed. People would often see me with made-up face but with little to no hair styling. No, my hair is not manageable. I just don't spend enough time to make it look nice.

Now that my hair is starting to be extremely unmanageable and rude, I have no choice but to exert effort in at least trying to make my mane look decent. Putting it up in a bun or in a high ponytail will not always be the best option so I have to seek help from hair tools.

Good hair days start with the right hair tools, really. When the W Elite Box arrived on my doorstep, I knew the gods of hair wanted me to be equipped with the right tools. Now, the journey to better looking hair is on!

The 1800W Nano Ceramic Hair Dryer looks like a regular hair blower but believe me, it is a standout. Its strong air boost saves up to 75% faster drying time!

It has 3 heat and 2 air speed settings that allows control on the airflow of the dryer. There is also a Cool Shot function that helps lock the hair style in place.

The kits comes with a 2 attachable concentrator nozzles which helps give definition to the hair style.

I must admit, I am not much of a fan of hair blowers. I find most of it too harsh for my thin and sensitive hair. But the 1800W Nano Ceramic Hair Dryer allows me to control the heat settings, giving way to beautifully dried without the damage brought by intense heat.

Oh, it only takes me about 3 minutes to completely dry my hair!

Curl n' Straight Tourmaline Ceramic Hair Styler

Planning to get a hair curler and a hair straightener? Forget it! The Curl n' Straight Tourmaline Ceramic Hair Styler is a 2-in-1 hair styling tool that can straight and curl the hair with so much ease!

Its 32mm tourmaline ceramic split barrel emits negative ions and neutralizes positively charged electrons. Too scientific, eh? In simple terms, the tourmaline delivers heat and smooth glide to the hair with less friction unlike other ceramic straighteners. It also helps eliminate frizz and limits hair loss due to breakage while keeping that hair shiny and strong.

It has controllable temperature settings that can reach up to 230º and can be viewed on a digital desiplay. The plates also heat up as fast 60 seconds.

Its swivel cord is a great addition too! No more cord tangling!

My ridiculously straight hair only requires 5 minutes to achieve a great style with the Curl n' Straight Tourmaline Ceramic Hair Styler. I love how it makes my hair less frizzy and keeps my hair shiny despite the heat.

A little turn can give glamorous curls!

I know, I need a little more practice on the curling part. I will sure get back to you with my perfectly done Victoria Secret curls!

Hair PRO by Watsons Heat Active Serum

Though the hair tools are made with quality, we should not forget to protect our hair with a heat protectant. The Hair PRO by Watsons Heat Active Serum protects that strands without the sticky feeling! It has the most advanced technology from Japan that harnesses heat energy from blow drying and heat styling to activate NanoRepair-El, an ingredient that restores and protects the hair.

Should you have these tools? Definitely! It may be a bit costly but equipping yourself with these saves you from spending thousands in salons. Aaaaand, we should always say YES to great hairstyles and those can easily be achieved with great hair tools!

W Elite is available at The SM Beauty Store and Watsons!

Share with me your hairstyles! I would love to try it! :)

Love,

♥ Jes ♥

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Removing makeup can really be a tedious task, especially when you are all tired and sleepy at the end of the day. I can easily remove my makeup, all thanks to my makeup removers. But during travels and sleep overs, it is not practical to bring along those conventional makeup removers since they are bulky and have the tendencies to spill. This is where makeup cleansing tissues come in handy.

There are so many makeup cleansing wipes/tissues available in the market, one of which is the Purederm Make-up Cleansing Tissues. I reviewed its baby sister(the one with 15 sheets) last year so this particular makeup cleansing tissue is no longer new to me. Read my review HERE. But because of some changes that happened to it, from the packaging down to the number of sheets available per pack, I think it is worth revisiting.

is affordable. I don't know its exact price but I am pretty sure it won't go over Php 150.00.

now comes in longer and wider sheets.

is perfect for travelling.

smells good.

doesn't make my skin feel dry and tight.

is soft to be used on the face.

doesn't give me any skin-related problems.

effectively removes makeup.

is moistened enough -- not too wet nor too dry.

is available in Watsons.

I DON'T LIKE that ...

I still need more than 1 sheet to thoroughly remove my waterproof makeup.

Will I repurchase?

YES!

This is how a sheet looks in reference to my big hand. Good thing, Purederm made their cleansing tissues longer and wider!

To remove my eye makeup, I usually let it stand for about 20 seconds and then softly stroking it over my eyelids. As you can see, it wasn't able to remove all the makeup. Parts of the eyeliner and mascara stayed that I have to go back and wipe it again to completely remove it.

After some thorough wiping and stroking, one sheet remove all the makeup on one half of my face.

Though I need 2-3 sheets to complete remove all my makeup, I think Purederm Makeup Cleansing Tissues is a good buy! It removes makeup, convenient, moisturizing and very affordable. I will sure getting more soon! I heard there are other scents available too! :)

Before and after

This Purederm Make-up Cleansing Tissues is part of the SM Beauty Box I received last month.

SM, the happy place that has got all for us, has something new and exciting coming this August -- the SM Beauty Box! Just like how other subscription/surprise boxes work, the SM Beauty Box allows shoppers to try the best beauty, grooming and lifestyle in the market.

The Beauty Box contains a bevy of beauty must-haves, both for physical beauty and for inner allure. While some of the products included in the package are primping and preening essentials, others take personal care to a new level by promoting skin and general health.

The box is huge, I tell you! Look at the above photo for size comparison. The SM Beauty Box contains 20 different products, a mixture of those that were tried-and-tested by many and those that were new but promising. It would cost more than Php4000.00 when the products are bought separately, but for the savvy shoppers, all the products will be yours for just a whopping Php799.00! This deal is way beyond incredible!

I haven't included in the list the reusable pink box! Haha! If you would ask me, the SM Beauty Box is more than worthy of its price! I am actually planning to get 2 more boxes to take advantage of the amazing deal! It sounds like hoarding but it is more of being practical. :)

The SM Beauty Boxwill have its debut run beginning August 1 at The SM Store Beauty Section in SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, and SM North Edsa.

Mark your calendar so you won't miss this amazing deal from SM! :)

♥ Jes ♥

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Today is the start of a new school year for me! Though I am no longer a student, the start of the class is totally exciting for me. By the time this is posted, I am at school meeting the precious little ones I'll spend the entire school year with! I love being a teacher! :)

I can still remember how simple I was when I was a college student. I seldom wore makeup. If ever I did, it just consisted of a lip tint and a blush. Browsing through old pictures made me realize I didn't look that presentable. I didn't even try to hide those undereye circles brought by all-nighter nor defined my sparse eyebrows. If only I knew half of the makeup tricks I know now, I would have looked a thousand times better. Too late to regret on those so let me share to you some makeup products that will sure help you in looking extra good in school.

Just to make things clear, I do not recommend wearing too much makeup in school. I know you don't want all eyes to be on you! We are aiming for a polished look and nothing more than that. :)

BB cream -- BB creams are perfect for school because it moisturizes the skin, gives sun protection and covers minor skin discolorations and blemishes. Just a dab a little more product on the undereye area to conceal the fruit of your sleepless nights! I recommend Purederm 3 in 1 Beauty Magic BB Cream because it gives the right amount of moisture, protection and coverage in a price suitable to the budget of a student.

Pressed powder/Powder foundation -- A little dust of powder on to the face helps keep the oil at bay! If you're lucky enough to have good skin, you can skip BB cream and just go with any pressed powder. It gives the coverage while making the skin looks fresh and matte. Maybelline Clear Smooth All In One Shine Free Cake Powder keeps the skin looking oil-free that lasts for a good 3-4 hours. It is available in a travel-friendly size that is very budget-friendly for only Php 99.00.

Eyebrow pencil/powder/pen -- You can totally skip this, of course, but a little eyebrow definition won't hurt. Well, if I am to be a student again (actually, I will soon) this product is a must-have. In case you want to define the pair that frames your face, make sure you'll be using a foolproof eyebrow product. Retouching is not an option in school since there is only a limited time to do that so stay with a product that lasts the entire day. K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow is not the cheapest in the market but I swear by its staying power. It gives a natural-looking brows that stays on for hours!

Tinted lip balm -- Bold lip colors are too striking for school so stay away from those lipsticks. A tinted lip balm will help in treating the dryness of the lips while giving the right amount of tint on it. Etude House Sweet Recipe Candy Stick in Seedless Strawberry Candy is perfect for everyday use. It gives a pink tint on the lips that lasts for about 5 hours. It is pretty good in keeping the lips smooth and supple too. Can I just add that it's too cute to tote around?

Facial mist -- Totally optional but I suggest to keep one in your bag. A few sprays will hydrate the skin and make it look fresh and awaken. This will also keep you awake on those boring classes. Hehe! Celeteque Hydrolyzed Moisturizing Mist gives the skin the dose of moisture it needs in a just a few sprays. It is very affordable too!

Here is a look you can sport everyday in school. Excuse the brows, though. I know you know how much I want to have that definition.

The products mentioned above are just my recommendations. Feel free to use any products you want that can give the same results.

Again, you don't need that much to look good. Use makeup as a tool to make you look extra beautiful and not as a shield that covers the real you. After all, what matters in school is your performance. The way you look is just a cream on the top. :)

Do/Did you wear makeup in school? Share some of your school makeup must-haves!

♥ Jes ♥

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Happy Sunday, everyone! I am about to start my long weekend (Yes, just now because we had work yesterday.)and I am so excited to do things outside my usual daily routine. But before I go out to run errands, I'll be sharing to you the warriors I have inside my bathroom.

Before, my bath essentials were just a plain shampoo and conditioner and a soap. But when vanity started to kick in, my bath essentials also started to increase in number. Before I was quite satisfied with my everyday 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, but now, I have to have a do-it-at-home kind of weekly treatment. Before, I just used a soap to clean my body, but now, I think bath gels and body scrubs are necessary.

These bath products are my current favorites! So far, I am quite satisfied with what they do to my hair and my body which is, by the way, the main reason why they are still in my bathroom. Unless I find better products, I will continue to repurchase these bath warriors of mine.

HAIR

I am bit skeptic in trying out new hair products in the market. I have very thin and I don't want to lose the remaining strands, hence, I stick with what I think works good for my crowning glory. For the past years, I used this anti-dandruff shampoo because I thought it was better to have a dandruff-free scalp than healthy strands of hair. It was just early this year when I realized I need to toss it out because its harsh ingredients caused may hair to fall. After so many times of trial-and-error, I finally bumped into the hair products that would change the bad fate of my hair. Let me present to you the products that keep the remaining strands of my hair alive and healthy.

In a nutshell, these products bring back the life of my about-to-die hair!

Dove Damage Repair Intense Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner -- Because I have to spare the little amount hair remaining on top of my head from further possible damages, I don't shampoo it every day. I alternately use the Dove Hair Intense Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner duo and the Snoe Hair Heroes Extreme. I must say that the Dove Hair Intense Therapy duo is the best shampoo and conditioner I've tried, so far. As a team, they make my hair soft and healthy. But I still find it too harsh to be used for everyday that's why I use Snoe Hair Heroes Extreme as an alternate.

Snoe Hair Heroes Extreme -- I like how this products makes my hair soft, straight and shiny without looking flat. And I love how it has multiple uses - it can be used as a cleansing conditioner, a after shampoo conditioning balm, a deep treatment mask, a leave-on treatment and a straightening balm. At Php499, this product is really worth buying!

Lorys Hair Cream in Fruit Cocktail -- Before I switched to the Dove Intense Therapy duo, this hair cream was my everyday conditioner. I loved it, really, but I noticed that the duo work better so it was demoted from everyday use to weekly use. Still, it does a wonderful job! I will be hoarding a lot of this if it'll go on sale at the Phil-Cosmetics Expo 2012!

Matrix Sensoria Care -- I was about to finish my Lorys Hair Cream so I brought this out from my cabinet. I have yet to use it more to give you my detailed thoughts about it but so far, I am liking it.

FACE and BODY

Aside from the usual bath soap that I use, I am giving extra care to my skin using these products:

H Bella Body Polish in Strawberry and Cinnamon -- Honestly, I don't know what a body polish is for. Haha! I just use it as instructed and after some rubbing and massaging, my skin feels super smooth with that tasty smell of strawberry. According to the descriptions, it improves the condition of the skin. My skin now feels soft and smooth, so can I already say that it does its job?

Snoe White Milk Whitening Scrub -- I like it because it scrubs my skin without the ouch-y feeling. I use this every 3 days, I think to get rid of my dead skin cells and make my skin extra soft and smooth. Whenever I use this, I don't feel the need to use a body lotion. And, a little goes a very long way for this bad boy. Would be believe that I have been using this for about a month now and I am still not halfway through?

Lately, I am not into foundations. The weather is too hot that I don't want my foundation to slide off my face, hence, my frequent use of powder foundations. But for times my face needs more coverage, I always reach out for BB creams and then top it off with powder foundation.

This Purederm 3in1 Beauty Magic BB Cream had been in my stash for some time now. I don't know why it took me this long to open it and give it a try. This was a part of my winnings from Bite. Luxe. Snap. Wander's giveaway. :)

So why do I choose BB creams over foundation during hot weather? Because BB creams moisturize, protect, give coverage and feel lighter.

With effective UV protection effects with SPF30, PA++, this product double blocks UV B ray and UV A ray. In addition, its waterproof feature carries out the multi-functions remaining continuously on your skin against water and sweat.

Comparing it with the other BB creams that I have, Purederm 3in1 Beauty Magic BB Cream gives better coverage. It can pass as a foundation, actually. It's a tad lighter for my skin tone but when topped with a powder foundation in my shade, it looks perfect.

What I LIKE about it:

Affordable -- This costs around Php400.00 to Php500.00 in Watsons, I think.

Available in Watsons

Easy to spread

Covers imperfections

Feels light on the skin

Moisturizing

Has SPF30!

No weird scent

Stays on for long hours

Waterproof

Didn't give breakouts or any skin-related problems

What I DON'T LIKE about it:

Only available in 1 shade

Reflects on flash photography -- It's not much of a problem for me because it's normal! :)

Will I repurchase?

It's possible but I still have a lot to use. :)

I think it's obvious that I am liking this BB cream. It gives me a flawless canvass without the heavy feeling! :)

Sorry for the lack of posts! I have been very busy with school stuff that I can't even find the time to sleep and rest. The pains of a graduating student! I'll sure be back to regular blogging as soon as these hell weeks end! :)

Summer is just around the corner! My friends and I are currently planning on going to Apo Reef this coming holidays. I am more than excited to wear my bikinis! When travelling, I know that each one of us has this travel essentials. Being a makeup junkie, I make sure that I bring makeup and makeup removers alongside the usual suspects of my travel bag. Yes, I bring and wear makeup on trips!

Though I need to always bring a makeup remover, I hate how bulky the bottles is so I always end up bringing makeup remover wipes with me. I find makeup wipes to be less effective than actual makeup removers!A couple of weeks back, I saw a cutie-patootie pink pack lying in one corner. I went giddy when I read the words ‘make-up cleansing tissues’.

This Purederm Make-Up Cleansing Tissues costs only Php29.00 for 15 wipes. Definitely a steal for makeup remover wipes!I have never seen a makeup remover wipes' pack as little as this.

This will sure fit in whatever makeup kit! Of course, the tissues inside are also small to complement its packaging. Using my hand as a basis, this is how small each wipe is:

Admit it, not all cute things work awesome so the real test on these wipes will be about how effectively it can remove makeup. I swiped the most budge-proof, smudge-proof and waterproof makeup I have on the back of my hand to see how the Purederm Make-Up Cleansing Tissues will work on them.

For someone who spends the entire day in school or merely out of the house, I probably go for a lip stain than a lipstick to give color on my lips. Whenever I am in school, I have the littlest time to check on myself and retouch for I have been preoccupied with stuff. That is basically why I need something that will last long on my lips. The best option was to use a lip stain. I have heard a couple of brands that carry lip stains (NYX, Revlon, and Styli-Style, to name a few) but since I am after the affordability of products, I went with ELF.

The ELF Studio Lip Stains are available locally through ELF counters (Php249.00) but I got mine from the loot my father sent me last 2011. I got the shades Fashionista and Birthday Suit for I know I could rock these shades without hesitations. These were my first lip stains so I had nothing to compare it with. I am thinking of getting the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream.

Left: Fashionista; Center: Birthday Suit; Right: Clear Gloss
Swatches were done with only one swipe each

The stains are housed in a dual-ended tube - one end for the stain and the other for the clear gloss. It has the usual lip gloss applicator that works perfect in picking up the right amount of product.

ELF Studio Lip Stain:

Achieve full coverage that lasts for hours with this long-wear formula.

Enjoy silky matte color or layer on the moisturizing clear gloss for a shiny look.

With key Vitamins A and E your lips stay smooth all day long.

Directions: Apply the stain to bare lips and allow to dry for a matte finish. Apply the clear gloss on top of the color for a shiny effect and to moisturize the lips if needed. Remove with any oil or cream-based makeup remover or cleanser.

I have used these stains for quite some time now and this is the perfect moment for me to give them a review. Birthday Suit is a pale pink shade that goes well with a smokey eye.

Birthday Suit | One swipe

Birthday Suit | Two swipes

Birthday Suit with clear gloss

It is quite noticeable that Birthday Suit does not appear to be opaque. It takes at least 2 swipes for me to get my desired opacity. It emphasizes the lines and dries my lips like crazy. Also, it doesn't stay long on my lips, especially if it's topped with the gloss. It stays only for about an hour.

This was how it looked after an hour.

I am liking Fashionista better than Brithday Suit. Fashionista is a bold pink color that appears to be fairly opaque even with just one swipe.

Fashionista | One swipe

Fashionista | Two swipes

Fashionista with clear gloss

Unlike the Birthday Suit, Fashionista stays longer on my lips. Though it still dries my lips, it doesn't wear off as much. This shade is my go-to shade whenever I am lazy to put on makeup but still want a pop of color on my face.

What I LIKE about it:

Inexpensive -- Locally priced at Php249.00 (~$5) each.

Available locally in Watsons and leading department stores

There's a decent amount of product for its price -- 6ml

Lovely shades available!

Comes with a clear gloss

Stays on longer than lipsticks

The applicator picks up a good amount of product for application

Dries quick

Budge-proof

What I DON'T LIKE about it:

Dries my lips like crazy!

Does not stay long as expected and as it claims -- This may probably vary on the shade. Fashionista lasts longer that Birthday Suit, for me at least.

The gloss ruins its staying power!

I hate the sticky feeling after the gloss is applied

Will I repurchase?

Maybe, NO.I have heard good things about Korean lip stains which makes me want to try one. Also, there are lipsticks that stay long but not as drying.

Notes:

Apply a lip balm prior to the application of the stain. This will somehow help in reducing the dryness.

Oily food may affect the staying power of lip stains.

Layer the color on to achieve the opacity and the color that you want.

For a matte and budge-proof finish, DO NOT use the gloss.

As much as I want the shades, I don't think I'll purchase another ELF Studio Lip Stain again. I might try the ones from NYX and Korean brands.

Jes Roque

Educator ǀ Beauty Blogger ǀ Filipina

An educator by profession and a beauty enthusiast by choice, Jes shares her thoughts on beauty and all the love in between through MakeUpLove. Hop in and get a dose of reviews, tutorials, features, expressions, and love.

Contact

Email me at jes@jesroque.com or e_jes1105@yahoo.com for inquiries, product reviews, events, product launches, collaborations, sponsorship or just anything you want us to discuss.